Gear-cutting machine.



E; BURGESS. GEAR CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1914.

5 SHEETFSHEET Patented July 10,- 1917.

m y m H T N m m V pm m A m F Y B F. BURGESS.

GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1914- Patented July 10, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I L- l l l l l l l l IN VEN TOR. flunk awyass M ATTORNEY.

BY W

F. BURGESS. GEAR CUTTING MACHINE. APELICATION FILED JUNE, 19,-

'11v VENTOR. 6mm 5 1017656 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented July 10, 1917.

WITNESSES:

ll i A TTORNEY.

F. BURGESS.

GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1914.

m 9 1 m VJ M J M m a P 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- W R mm N5. m N

WITNESSES:

M ATTORNEY.

F. BURGESS.

GEAR CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. i914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

$ A TTORNE Y.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1d, 1911?.

Application filed June 12, 1914. Serial No. 8%,786.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK Bnnonss, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Wollaston, county of Norfolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Gear-Cutting Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts in each of the several views.

This inventionsrelates to gear cutting machines and is specially though not exclusively, adapted for producing spur or helical gears by the bobbing process. Among the prime ob ects of the invention are to provide an improved machine adapted for veryrapid production of gears particularly of the smaller sizes, the machine being distinguished 'by great simplicity, stifiness, and convenience in operation, as well as be" ing handy for getting at the worl setting the Inachinenp and changing the blanks. ()ne distinguishing feature of the invention is a simplified arrangement of driving connections whereby the lines of drive to the cutter, and to the work arbor and work table for rotating the work and feeding the same respectively, are direct and compact with a capability as to the rotation and feed of the blank for the requisite changes in a most convenient manner. It is important in order to get rid of chattering that the drive from the pulley shaft to the hob cutter be as direct as possible, and one important feature of the present invention has to do with an improved construction wherein it is possible to mount the main hob directly on the pulley shaft. One important feature of the invention consists in a novel system of bringing a driving connection to the swivel center of the work table support and thence leading a connection in one direction endwise of the table for rotating the work arbor, and leading another connection in the other direction endwise of the table for.

feeding the table, whereby these two operative connections remain undisturbed through the swiveling adjustment of the table. A further important feature has to do withv an improved arrangement of op- 'posite cutter heads carrying respective cutters one of which may be a roughing-out cutter, or a mill for finishing the; blank periphery, the other cutter being a finishing hob or like cutter. The above and other 1 objects and" features of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be thereafter pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of the machine with a part broken away;

Fig. 2 is an end view from the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view with a part broken away; and i Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the driving train connections.

A base 1 which may be in the form of a pedestal has at one side an upright column 2 to carry the cutter shaft and the drive, and at its top a horizontal rest face 3 to support for swinging adjustment a table base 4 on which the table slide 5 of the work arbor is mounted for endwise feed movement. The main drive shaft 6 which is equipped with suitable provision to receive prime driving impulse, shown as a pulley 6 and carries the main hob 7 of the machine is mounted in a journal slide block 8 fitted to slide vertically in ways of the column 2 under the action of an adjusting screw 9 fitted in said column. The shaft 6 transmits power through the bevel gears 10 to a vertical shaft 11 journaled in bracket bearings 12. 13, the bracket 12 being carried by the journal block 8 and moving the shaft 11 therewith while the bracket 13 is fixed to the column 2 with the shaft slidable therethrough. The shaft 11 at its lower portion has driving engagement as by a slidable key with the bevel gearing 14: which drives a shaft 15 horizontally journaled in the frame work, this slidable key connection permitting the vertical adjustment of the shaft 6 to bring the hob 7 into operative relation with blanks of different sizes, while maintaining the drive to the work table and to the work arbor.

from the right in a bearing block 17 fitted for vertical adjustment in the column 2, such vertical adjustment being effected by suitable means shown as an adjusting screw 18 journaled at 19 in the column 2 and engaging a nut 20 on the bearing block 17 this screw being connected through bevel gears 21 for operation I preferablv pro-. 'vide a second cutter shaft 16 mounted in by a shaft 22 journaled in the column and means of spiral gearing 150, the driven member of which has slidably keyed therethrough a shaft 151 journaled and held against endwise movement in the bearing block 17 with driving connection by means of bevel gears 152 to the second cutter shaft 16. I

The blank I) is carried on a blank arbor 2 journaled in a' support 25 upstanding from the slide table or carriage 5 which is fitted to ways on the table base as indicated at 27 for endwise movement. The support or mounting 25 ofthe blank arbor extends obliquely inward as indicated at 28 so as to bring the blank arbor to one side of the table and in position so that the hob or cutters may attack it with only a short projection from their respective mountings. The blank arbor 24 is driven torotate the blank in timedrelation to the hob rotation and to the table feed; for this purpose I show a worm wheel 29 fixed to the blank arbor driven by a worm 30 fixed on a shaft 31 journaled in a bracket 32 at the end of the table slide. The shaft 31 is driven by bevel gears 33 and a stub shaft 34 from a set of change gears 35 the driving one of which is mounted on a shaft 36, all of said gears being carried by a bracket 37 fixed at the end of the table slide. The shaft 36 has. a slidable key connection indicated at 38 with the one of change gears 35 through which it passes and this shaft is journaled and held against endwise movement in a bearing post 39 upstanding from the table base 4. The shaft-36 has at its inner end a bevel pinion 40 meshing with a bevel gear 41 journaled on a vertical bearing 42 which is concentric with the axis of swinging adjustment of the table base to be presently further described. The gear 41 is driven by a pinion 43 at the inner end of shaft 15 which is thus adapted to transmit driving impulse through the gear 41 throughout the range of angular adjustment of the slide table and its base. To provide means whereby the drive for the endwise feed of the table to feed the blank across the hob may be maintained throughout the range of swinging table adjustment I provide a pinion 44 to mesh with gear 41 and fixed at the end of a shaft 45 journaled in bearing posts 46 and extending along the table opposite'jthe shaft 36. The shaft 45 through bevel ge'ars 47 drives a stub shaft 48 -journaled in the table base and this stub shaft has fixed thereon the: driving one of a train of change gears49 journaled at the side of the table base, the driven one of which is fixed on a transverse shaft 50 journaled in brackets 51, 51 at the end of the table base. The shaft 50 has fixed at its other end a worm 52 meshing with a worm wheel 53 loosely mounted on the feed shaft 54 which is journaled to extend lengthwise of the table base. The worm wheel 53 is adapted to be brought into driving engagement with the feed shaft 54 by a clutch 55 slidably keyed on the feed shaft and having clutch teeth to engage with coiipe'rative clutch teeth on the side of gear 53. .The clutch collar 55 is actuated by a usual shipper arm from a shipper rod 56 slidably carried to extend along the table base with an adjustable lug 57 to be engaged by an adjustable bolt 57 carried by a lug on the table slide for dis engaging the clutch at the completion of a gear cutting operation. The feed shaft 54 has its inner portion threaded and engaged with a nut member depending from the table slide as indicated at 58. Suitable means is provided for a quick return of the table slide after the cutting operation is completed and for this purpose I show a hand operated device consisting in spiral gearing 540, one member of which is fixed on the feed shaft 54, and the other of which is on a transverse -shaft 541 journaled in the table base with an operating hand wheel 542 at the side thereof. A tail stock mounted at the rear of the table slide is indicated at 280 which may be used in certain cases where the character of the work requires it. The table base is adapted to swing about the axis 42 on the supporting face 3 of the base so as to change the line of blank feed as required for gears of different types and angulari'ty. To permit this swinging adjustment I provide arcuate slots 59 in projecting flanges 60, 61 of the base support through which are passed clamp bolts 62 extending up into the table base with suitable clamping handles 63. It is to be observed that by reason of the offset mounting of the work arbor on the table slide so that it is at one side thereof for engagement by the cutting means projecting out from the upright 2, it is possible for the chips to be discharged own through a central vertical passage 6'4 into a chi chute and pan 65 at the base of the machine, thus making the machine more convenient and tidy.

It is to be observed that in my improved machine, I combine a mechanism of stiffness, rigidity and strength, with a capability of relative adjustments and movements of the cutter and work in any desired direction and in any desired speed ratios as required for pdiflerentnlasses of work. The direct mountingof the hob 7 mi the drive shaft of the 1 machine and the rigid support there of dieliminates back lash by associating the prime drive of the machine directly with the cutter but the mounting and backing thus.

provided practically does away entirely with all chattering and vibration. By reason of my improved. system of connections for controlling the feed and indexing of the work arbor whereby the shaft 15 leading from the prime cutter drive brings the driving connection to the gear 41 concentric with the axis of table adjustment, 1 am enabled to provide a compact and convenient arrangement of connections for feeding the work table and rotating the work arbor through the shafts 45, 36 journaled in the table base and leading out at opposite directions from the drive gear 41. It is to be especially noted that since the necessary angular or swiveling, and other adjustments are taken care of by adjustment of the work table and the table slide, the cutter shaft which is also the prime drive shaft may be mounted directly on the column support with only a single slide mounting, i. a, the mounting 8' for adjusting the cutter to difierent sizes of gear blanks; this contributes materially to stifiness and rigidity as will be readily understood. lhe provision of a second cutter working opposite the main hob permits either a finishing of the blank periphery by milling as a part of the same operation that cuts the gear teeth, or as before noted the milling cutter may be replaced by a rough ing out hob or gashing cutter. It is to be understood however that in certain of the broader aspects of the invention as otherwise developed herein the use of such second cutter is immaterial. I am aware that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms as to its various details without departing from the spirit thereof and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, referring rather to the appended claims to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gear hobbing machine, comprising a support equipped with a shaft bearing, a shaft having a hob fixed thereto and also equipped with provision to receive prime driving impulse, journaled in said bearing, a work arbor mounted in operative relation to said hob, and connections from said shaft for rotating said work arbor and for feeding it endwise, both in definite timed relation to the rotation of said hob.

2. A gear bobbing machine, comprising a column support, a slide block fitted thereto, a shaft having a hob fixed thereto and also equipped with provision to receive prime. :dr1ving impulse journaled in said slide, a work arbor mounted in operative relation to said slide, and connections from purpose stated.

said shaft for rotating said work arbor and for feeding it endwise, both in definite timed relation to the rotation of said hob.

3. A gear'cutting machine, comprising an upright column, a slide block fitted thereto for adjustment, a shaft having a hob fixed thereto and also equipped with means for receiving prime driving impulse journaled in said slide, a Work table slide having a work arbor mounted thereon, and connections from said shaft for rotating said Work arbor and for feeding said table slide in different positions of angular adjustment thereof.

4. A gear cutting machine, comprising a support mounting, a shaft j ournaled therein, a cutter on said shaft, means carried by said shaft for receiving prime driving impulse, a work table having a work arbor mounted thereon, means for feeding said table at variable angles relative to said cutter, and means for rotating the work in any position of angular adjustment thereof.

5. A gear cutting machine, comprising a column support, a slide fitted thereto, a cutter shaft journaled in said slide having a cutter fixed thereto and equipped with provision for receiving prime driving impulse, a work table slide having a work arbor mounted thereon in operative relation to said cutter, and means for feeding said work arbor relative to said cutter in different positions of angular adjustment relative thereto.

6. A gear cutting machine, comprising a support having a cutter mounted thereon, a work table slide having a work arbor mounted thereon in operative relation to said outter, a base for said table slide mounted for angular adjustment, means for rotating said work arbor, means for feeding said table slide endwise, and common driving connectlons for sa1d rotating and feeding means having a gear element concentric with the axis of adjustment of said table base for th 7 A gear cutting machine, comprising a support, a cutter mounted thereon, a work table slide having a work arbor mounted thereon in operative relation to said cutter, a table base on which said table slide is fitted mounted for angular adjustment on said support, driving means having a gear element mounted concentric with the-.axis of adjustment of said table base, and trains of connections leading in opposite directions therefrom, one of said trains being connected to rotate the work arbor, and the other train being connected to feed the table slide endwise.

support, a cutter mounted thereon, a work arbormounted in operative relation to Said cutter and for angular adjustment relative thereto, means for rotating said arbor, means 13cfor feeding it endwise, and drivin connections leading through the axis angular adjustment of said arbor for effecting the rotation and feed of said arbor variably and at selective relative rates with respect to each other.

9 A gear cutting machine, comprising a column support, a shaft fitted thereto having a cutter hob at one end and provision to receive prime driving impulse at its other end portion, a second cutter mounted on said support, connections for operating said sec- 0nd cutter from said shaft, and a work arbor mounted in position for operative movement andadjustment between said cutters.

10. A gear cutting machine, comprising I a column support, a cutter shaft horizontally mounted and fitted to slide vertically in said support, said shaft having a hob fixed thereon and having also provision to receive prime driving impulse, a table slide mounted for feed md vement in a path generally transverse of said cutter shaft, the mounting of said slide permitting limited angular adjustment of the direction of slidemovement, a work arbor mounted on said table slide and connections for rotatin said arbor and for feeding said table sli e endwise, said connections consisting in a gear mounted concentric with the axis of angular adjustment of the table slide, means for driving said gear from the cutter shaft, and connections from said gear leadin in opposite directions to the table sli e feeding mechanism and the work arbor rotating mechanism respectively. I

In testimony whereof I have signedmy name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' FRANK BURGESS.

Witnesses:

CLYDE L. ROGERS, A. E. WALKER. 

